An Interseeding System for Cotton Production to Reduce Pest Occurrence and Energy Consumption

Cotton growers in the southern USA are facing new and existing production problems that are reducing farm profits and sustainability: 1) herbicide-resistant weeds are spreading throughout the Southeast, 2) thrips are consistently ranked as an important insect pest group Beltwide, 3) the most effective tool for managing nematodes and thrips (Temik 15G) is no longer available, and 4) fuel costs have increased significantly over the last ten years. An interseeding system developed at Clemson University allows planting of cotton into standing wheat, about 2-3 weeks before wheat harvest. This system, which combines benefits of crop residue and minimum tillage operations, has the potential to alleviate many of the production problems cited above, while enhancing farm profits and soil properties. Crop residue associated with the interseeding production system reduced weed populations and required significantly less herbicide inputs compared with the conventional system. Columbia lance nematodes populations were reduced in the interseeding system by 83% without an application of nematicide. Populations of thrips were reduced by 74% in the interseeding production system. Interseeded cotton yields were similar to those from the conventional full-season crop. In addition, interseeded systems required 35% less fuel than conventional production systems.